Nakhon Pathom lies about 56 kilometers west of Bangkok. It sits on the broad flat plain of the Chaophraya Basin. According to legend, the area was once a coastal region when it was first settled around 1,600 years ago, but sedimentation has since moved the coastline almost 50 kilometers away.
The two main sights of interest in the province are the Phra Pathom Chedi and Sanam Chan Palace, both of which are in the provincial capital.